The Hindu Munnani has filed a case in the Supreme Court seeking the recovery of Vajragiri Hill in the Acharapakkam area of Chengalpattu district amid allegations that Christian missionaries are occupying about 60 acres of land and carrying out various manoeuvres to prevent Hindus from entering the hill where there exists an ancient Sivan Temple.
The Vajragiri hill is located about 95 km from Chennai along the Chennai-Trichy highway near Melmaruvathur. From the distance, one can see a dilapidated building on the top of a hill with ‘Siva Siva’ written on a board. As the eye crosses, one can see a huge cross and the line ‘Mariye Vaazhga’ (Long live Mary) written in Tamil on the hill.
How was the Church built on this hill?
In 1965, Puspam Adigalar, a Catholic priest, became the co-founder of the Roman Catholic Church of St. Joseph in Acharappakam. He installed a statue of Mary on a nearby hill. No construction work was done on the site until 2004.
Bakiya Regis, who took over as the as priest in 2004, began construction around the statue on the hill. Areas of the hill and paths were occupied and buildings were erected on the hillside poromboke land belonging to the Pallipettai panchayat. Paths were blocked for cattle rears who used to let their cattles graze in the pasteurs of the hill.
Since 2005, the ‘new moon worship’ of the Church started gaining popularity. At the same time, opposition from local Hindus began to grow. Whenever they complained, the Revenue Department would send a warning notice which would later get settled through ‘negotiations’ with officials.
Raja, a resident of Sothupakkam filed an RTI to find out the area encroached by the Church. The Revenue Department had replied that only 4 acres were encroached. However, he found that more than 60 acres was found to be encroached when he visited the hill. Following this, he filed a case at the Madras High Court.
The sorry state of the temple
Today, it is unknown to many that there exists an ancient Sivan temple on the hill. The main Siva deity is called Pasupathiswarar. This temple is now allegedly being occupied by Christian missionaries. Locals complaint that there are a lot of activities that the missionaries do to prevent Hindus to go to the temple at the hill.
The builders of this temple made two ways to go to this temple several hundred years ago. One can reach the top of the mountain by steep stairs. The other is by a vehicular path behind the hill.
But, the Christians have now built a huge church at the top and bottom of the hill. They have also occupied the entire hill by placing crosses across the mountain.
The church administration has set up a decorative entrance gate at the top of the hill where there is a driveway to the Pashupatiswarar Temple. The devotees who go to pray at the Pasupathiswara Temple above have to enter the ornamental arch of the church. But, the road is currently barricaded with barbed wire.
The devotees of the temple tried to set up a temporary path. But, the Christian missionaries have vandalised that too by dumping rubbish. Locals say that the Christians priests and missionaries are blocking the way to the hill in order to take control of the entire hill.
Some of the local youth from the area have been making all possible arrangements to rebuild the Hindu temple. They Siva Siva hoarding that flashes during the night was set up with the help of local Hindu organizations and well wishers. But, it has been impossible for them along to confront the Christian priests who have the power to grease hands and influence the government authorities.
They decided to put a new borewell on the hill and even build water tanks. But the Forest Department stopped them from implementing, saying that no action should be taken without consulting the Forest Department on the land owned by them. However, Hindu organizations have been pointing out the double standards of the Forest Department which has remained a mute spectator to the encroachments made by the Church.
It has been reported that the missionaries have taken the hill on a 99-year lease and this claim was backed by the pastors of the Church.
In light of this, the Hindus in Acharapakkam have demanded that the Pasupathiswarar temple on the hill should be reclaimed immediately. Here are some of the demands placed by the local Hindu organization:
1. The Vajragiri hill belonging to the Pashupatiswara temple should be protected from Christian missionaries.
2. The path to the temple at the top of the hill should be paved. Similarly, the decorative arch built by the Christians should be removed and the entrance gate should be built to Pasupathiswara.
3. The boulders on Vajragiri Hill should not be broken and sold.
4. Christian missionaries should not be involved in proselytizing activities in the area.
5. Action should be taken against those who damaged the electric lights and electrical boards installed in the Pasupathiswarar temple.
6. The barbed-wire fences erected by Christian missionaries must be removed.
7. The Forest Department should provide an appropriate explanation for the priests’ claim that the lease was for 99 years.
It was in this context that the Hindu Munnani officials have filed a case in the Supreme Court alleging that the management of the Mazhaimalai Mata Church had expropriated outlying land (about 60 acres). In this case, the judge directed the district administration to survey the area and hand over the report to the court within 8 weeks . An inquiry was held in this regard on June 4th at the Magistrate’s Office in Madurantakam.
(With inputs from Kathir News and Vikatan)
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